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France has been an absolute footballing powerhouse throughout the history of the sport. Football is the most widely followed sport in France and it shows. They have an incredibly large talent pool and football is very much a part of the culture of the country.
France have won two FIFA World Cups and two European championships. They are the reigning champions of the world after winning the latest edition of the World Cup in 2018. The French national team is filled to the brim with superstars.
There are so many generational talents in the first team that so many top players struggle to even get a look in. France most recently won the UEFA Nations League and over the course of the tournament, they showed just how well-rounded and complete a team they are.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best French players in the world right now.
#5 Jules Kounde (Sevilla)
Jules Kounde is only 23 years old but has already established himself as one of the best centre-backs on the planet. Standing at 178 cms, the Frenchman is not as tall as traditional centre-backs but despite that, he excels at aerial duels and is a very solid presence at the heart of defence.
Sevilla have the best defensive record in La Liga this season. They have conceded just 16 goals in 23 games and it is testament to Kounde's ability as a centre-back.
Not only is he a strong defender who is difficult to get past or get the better of, but Kounde is also excellent with the ball at his feet. He is currently one of the most sought-after defenders in the world and is tipped to leave Sevilla to join one of the European giants this summer.
#4 Theo Hernandez (AC Milan)
Theo Hernandez is currently one of the best left-backs in the world. It speaks volumes of France's squad depth when a player as good as Hernandez only got his first call-up to the national team just a few months ago in August 2021.
Hernandez is a technically proficient full-back who loves to bomb up and down the left flank. He can jink past opponents with ease and is very dangerous with the ball in the final third. The 24 year old is also excellent at aerial duels as well as at reading the game and this makes him a very versatile player.
Hernandez has scored four goals and provided seven assists in 26 appearances across all competitions for AC Milan this season.
#3 N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
N'Golo Kante was a standout performer for Chelsea as they won the Champions League last season. The diminutive defensive midfielder was on top of his game in the knockout stages of the tournament, collecting man-of-the-match awards in crucial games.
Not only does Kante come up clutch whenever his team needs him, but he is also available to put in a shift any day of the week. Kante is arguably the best defensive midfielder of his generation, with his spatial awareness, tactical intelligence and ability to make interceptions simply being a cut above the rest.
Kante is as tenacious a player as any and he relentlessly hounds opponents and affords them no space or time on the ball. This makes him a great asset to any side as he is the kind of player that doesn't let the opposition settle down or control proceedings from the center of the park.
He is also pretty neat with his passing and can cause some damage whenever he forays forward and joins the attack. Kante has scored two goals and provided two assists for Chelsea in 21 appearances across all competitions so far this term.
#2 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Kylian Mbappe has been one of the best attackers in football for over five years now. That's why it feels a bit strange that he is still just 23 years old because it feels like he has been around forever.
Mbappe is a nightmare to defend against for opponents. His blistering pace, trickery and incredible shooting range make him as elusive and persistent a threat as any. He was lackluster at Euro 2020 but made up for it by scoring important goals in the semi-finals and final of France's UEFA Nations League triumph.
Mbappe continues to be the main man for PSG and while Neymar Jr. and Lionel Messi have struggled for form, the youngster has been a standout performer for them.
In 29 appearances across all competitions for PSG this term, Mbappe has scored 19 goals and provided 16 assists.
#1 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema is one of the greatest strikers of his generation. The Real Madrid man has turned 34 but has been playing some of the best football of his career in recent times. Benzema was a standout performer for France at Euro 2020 as well, scoring four goals in four appearances.
He also shone for Les Bleus at the UEFA Nations League, where he scored vital goals in the semi-finals and final to help his side win the tournament. Benzema has played alongside some of the finest attackers in the game and has not had any qualms playing a supporting role for the majority of his career.
But this season, he has been Real Madrid's star man. He has led from the front, scoring 24 goals and providing nine assists in 28 appearances across all competitions this season. Benzema is one of the most in-form players in the world right now and this could prove to be a defining year in his illustrious career.
